Degrees and Programs

Academics

Concordia-Chicago Degree Programs

Concordia University Chicago offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts & sciences, business and education. A CUC education prepares you academically, intellectually, practically and ethically to find a meaningful career or vocation.

Accounting is information system. It's the language of business. Knowing that language is the key to success in the business world. At Concordia-Chicago, accounting students become not just number-crunchers, they become critical thinkers and ethical business leaders.

Concordia’s applied microscopy program allows you to take advantage of our partnership with the Hooke College of Applied Sciences. Concordia’s outstanding faculty and natural science programs provide excellent foundational instruction, while the Hooke College of Applied Sciences offers specialized education from its experienced staff scientists and hands-on training with a wide range of state-of-the-art microscopy instrumentation.

Do you enjoy expressing your creative side through art? Are you fascinated with art history? Does using art in a business or helping profession appeal to you? The Studio Art program at Concordia University Chicago focuses on the many aspects of art ranging from history to painting to desktop publishing, and prepares you for a career that uses your artistic expression.

Art teachers are dedicated to making their subject accessible, understandable and meaningful to their students. They are advocates who can articulate in a day-to-day classroom setting the importance of student learning in the visual arts.

Students who want to become art therapists express themselves creatively, are interested in human behavior and have a desire to serve others. We offer an intensive pre-art therapy program that prepares you for success in art therapy graduate work, which can lead to your master’s degree and becoming a Registered Art Therapist.

Program Overview
The health care industry today is evolving which has opened opportunities for the creation of many new and exciting careers. The health care management field focuses on planning, directing, or coordinating medical and health...
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The program prepares persons to enter or progress in positions within several sectors of the sports industry, including professional organizations, college athletics and recreational or commercial facilities.

Our degree develops an exciting range of skills to create a well-equipped individual who will excel in culturally rich art environments and organizations, such as museums, art galleries, art agencies, educational institutions, commercial arts and public art. The administrative aspect will help you build relevant management and leadership skills to serve both not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.

A business communication degree from Concordia University Chicago is about learning how to coordinate and integrate all marketing communication tools, avenues and sources within an organization to create a strategy that achieves specific goals.

Modern churches and recognized not-for-profit service organizations must operate similar to businesses, including payroll, insurance, risks and staff. Therefore, it is important for pastors to understand best practices related to a variety of business topics and environments. Because of these complex demands that extend beyond the call, it is important for pastors to understand basic principles of not-for-profit organizations.

Wisdom, eloquence and virtue—these are the qualities of a classically educated individual. If you are interested in a classical liberal arts education in the Lutheran tradition, the Classical Liberal Studies major at Concordia University Chicago is the ideal program to facilitate your pursuit of knowledge.

Computer Information Systems is the foundation for the management of information and data. It is the study of how to plan, develop and support computerized systems. The discipline involves more than just writing code. It includes the study of algorithms, data structures, languages, operating systems and hardware.

At Concordia University Chicago, students pursuing a Criminal Justice degree will obtain an interdisciplinary experience, rooted in the social sciences, which incorporates theory and practice. Students are able to tailor their degrees by enrolling for courses in sociology, political science, psychology, philosophy and social work.

Through the long-standing Deaconess Studies program, you will be equipped to serve people in need through congregations, agencies, institutions or missionary work. Deaconesses have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include teaching, visitation, ministering to the grieving, counseling, and helping others to use their gifts of service.

Concordia’s DCE program will prepare you for a rewarding ministry career through ministry-specific courses, valuable field experience, and personal interaction with experienced DCE faculty and active DCEs serving in the Chicago area.

First established in 1864 as Addison Teachers Seminary, Concordia University Chicago continues its proud legacy of educating teachers for private and public schools. Students who major in early childhood education learn how to teach children from infancy through third grade. Hands-on experience is a cornerstone of our program.

A liberal arts degree in English prepares you to read and interpret texts, think critically, and write effectively. Literary study also focuses on deepening your understanding of human life and culture. An English degree can prepare you for a variety of different careers. Many students also use the B.A. in English as preparation for graduate study, either in English or in other areas like ministry, law, or library science.

In conjunction with the College of Education, you can earn a degree in secondary education with a major in English. This will prepare you to teach English at the secondary level. The program combines rigorous study in English with the professional course work leading to certification as a secondary English teacher.

Are you interested in corporate fitness, recreational fitness, personal training or cardiac rehabilitation? Have you considered a career as a strength and conditioning coach or work in other allied health professions?

Joint Degree Program with Resurrection University
Earn a degree in the increasingly in-demand field of Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) from two fully accredited institutions: Concordia University Chicago and Resurrection...
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The Pre-Professional Health Sciences program is a package of courses for the student whose academic or professional plans require a broad base of science courses. If you’re interested in attending medical, dental or veterinary schools, or pursuing graduate study in nursing (generalist), occupational therapy or physical therapy, this program will prepare you well.

Are you interested in exploring the lineage of governments both free and totalitarian, the fate of nations, and the origins of the world we live in? What about the influence of minorities on the history of their various countries? if you answered yes to these questions, then the History program at CUC is a perfect match for you.

The Human Communication and Culture specialization provides students with the theoretical knowledge base to understand how communication impacts social interaction. Within this track, relationships, culture, organizations, and teams are analyzed...
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Our journalism program focuses on the foundational skills of proper reporting, editing and analysis with emphasis on convergent media—preparing you for a future with multiple career options in journalism and communication. This includes print, broadcast, online and magazine journalism; traditional and online publishing; corporate or not-for-profit communication; public relations; media relations; and more.

Our Lutheran Teacher Education program is specifically intended for those who are called to serve in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod schools. This program will equip you with the education and certification necessary to become a teacher in Lutheran schools at the early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education levels.

Organizations are looking for individuals to help them sustain and thrive, remain innovative, responsive and forward thinking. In pursuing a management degree from Concordia University Chicago, students build a solid foundation of critical and creative thinking skills and learn to be entrepreneurial, evaluate opportunity, manage risk and learn from outcomes.

The ability to communicate effectively to one’s audience is a hallmark of an effective leader. Marketing majors at Concordia University Chicago nurture this ability and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which includes thinking creatively, a willingness to take risks, leadership skills, openness to new ideas, and the knowledge to critically evaluate opportunity and innovation.

The media track provides students with analytical frameworks to understand the complex system of mediated communication central to our globalizing world. It gives students an understanding of media as an immense force, its institutional operations,...
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Media Arts Administration encompasses a diverse range of positions in agencies, film distribution companies, commercial radio and television stations, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. It requires individuals who communicate well in speaking and writing, know the latest technology, and understand how to effectively use information in today’s rapidly changing media environment.

Music is a vital part of the college atmosphere at Concordia University Chicago. As a student, you can find your place in music at Concordia whether you are taking courses in music, participating in ensembles orenjoying music as a listener.

This program combines two of Concordia’s strengths: music and education. We recognize the value of music in the lives of all students, providing quality programs, faculty and ensembles that exceed those of many other universities of comparable size.

Are you considering becoming a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist or veterinarian? Are you interested in using science to work with and help those in need? Is graduate school part of your future plans?

Running a modern not-for-profit organization means knowing how to run a business—administering payroll, providing health insurance, managing staff, maintaining facilities and minimizing risks. Church leaders and not-for-profit executives are increasingly asked to handle these issues with businesslike efficiency.

Earn your Nursing degree from Concordia University Chicago and Resurrection University. Our unique program allows you to earn a bachelor of science degree in Nursing from two accredited institutions, while you enjoy the benefits of being a student at two nationally recognized universities.

Philosophy attempts to understand the nature of reality and how we can know about it. It enriches the understanding of human nature and human culture and sharpens the capacity to think clearly and precisely. You will become familiar with traditional philosophic issues and some of the attempts to solve them.

Are you passionate about working with elementary, middle school, or high school students? Would you like to learn about various teaching strategies and methodology that will lead students to discover how to develop an active and healthy lifestyle? Click the details link above for more information.

If you’re interested in law, American government, politics, political theory, policy studies or international relations, Concordia University Chicago offers you the opportunity to study any of these of subjects and more in the department of political science. This program includes courses about all levels in government, political theory, public administration and much more, which are designed to give students a well-rounded and accurate view of their nation and the world.

The program will help you understand the legal institutions and issues faced by America’s legal, correctional and justice professionals. It is flexible and interdisciplinary, combining courses in political science, sociology, philosophy, psychology and social work.

Our Pre-Seminary program designates coursework to be taken within a liberal arts or education degree track, which fulfills seminary entrance requirements. Students completing all the prescribed coursework will be identified as having completed the pre-seminary program of studies on their transcripts.

Psychology focuses on understanding two critical relationships: one between brain function and behavior, and one between the environment and behavior. As scientists looking to contribute solutions to problems, psychologists follow the scientific method through careful observation, experimentation and data analysis to develop intervention strategies, applying scientific principles.

Are you interested in teaching high school students, preparing them to enter the workforce or college? Concordia’s Secondary Education program prepares you to be an educator in a specific subject area, teaching grades 6-12.

It takes a special person to care for the needs of others, to listen with an open heart, to establish trust and confidence in a helping relationship. Socialworkersdevotethemselvestohelpingindividuals,couplesand familiesfunction effectively.

Sociology is the study of social life. It focuses on the interactions of people and institutions, and their influences upon each other. If you’re fascinated by the behavior of people in groups or in society, sociology is a major you should seriously consider.

The Spanish program at Concordia University Chicago is an excellent starting point for those interested in other cultures, intrigued by the travel and tourism industry, or seeking to break the communication barrier to help those in need.

Special Education teachers are in great demand-they modify lessons to cater to the various special learning needs of children and help develop positive social skills.They also believe that every child can learn, regardless of special circumstances. As more special-needs conditions are recognized and discovered, the demand for special education teachers will only grow.

Are you interested in promoting sports development and/or fitness and wellness for a diversity of age ranges? Are you interested in working in a park district, YMCA, fitness center, or physical/sport training facility? If you answered yes then a major or a minor in Sport and Fitness may be the right fit for you. Click the details link above for more information.

The sports industry is ubiquitous in American culture, and thus the management of sports programs, athletes and facilities is held to a high standard. Those who work in sports management must be familiar with sports and recreation, while also being effective leaders and business professionals.

The Strategic Communication track teaches students the ways in which messages are delivered to, from, and within organizations. Courses examine communication and its relation to individuals and organizations through both written and oral means. In...
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Our comprehensive training provides classes in all aspects of production (acting, directing, playwriting and design), as well as those courses necessary to provide a foundation for the advanced study of theater (including History of Theater, Contemporary Drama, Scene Analysis and Shakespeare). We create artists who are ready to work in the theater the moment they graduate from CUC.

The Theological Languages program allows you to earn a major or minor in biblical languages. You will study Greek, Hebrew and Latin-learning to communicate, comprehend and write each language. Students interested in this program often pursue careers as pastors, professors and language experts.

Explore the past and present influence of theology on the world. Prepare yourself to serve in the church or to attend graduate school. Study biblical languages. Put into perspective how religion affects and is affected by the rest of society. If you’re interested in studying with theological scholars in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod context, this is the program for you.

The first program of its kind in the Concordia University System, this interdisciplinary program explores gender as a theory and as a practice -- and how it affects psychology, sociology, art and a range of other disciplines. The core faculty for our program are all trained in women’s and gender studies in their respective fields.